Causes, events, and impacts of the Salem witch-trials 1692-3

What were the political changes to New England?

• 1684 = Crown revoked the royal charter in which Massachusetts had been governed by.

• Replaced by the unpopular ‘Dominion of New England’

• 1689 = the Glorious Revolution → Catholic James II replaced by protestants William and Mary

• October 1691 = a new charter stated that Massachusetts had to conform to English law and allow religious toleration

What were the impacts of such political changes to Salem?

Created instability which may have contributed to a heightened sense of insecurity which may have manifested into a desire to root out enemies from within.

What was the significance of the Native American conflicts for New England?

• King Philip’s War (1675-8) killed 10% of military-aged men and approx 600 colonists.

• Salem witch trials took place during King William’s War (1689-97) and involved frequent raids from the French-backed Wabanaki Native Americans.

What were the impacts of such conflicts on the Salem witch trials?

• First person accused was Tituba, a (possibly) Native American slave.

• Psychological impacts → constant threat of attack and the presence of war heightened dears and likely exacerbated witch hysteria

What were the economic conditions of Salem at the time?

• Economic and land disputes were rampant in Salem → many of the accused were involved in contentious land dealings

• Economic strain of the period, exacerbated by war and poor harvests, led to financial difficulties

What were the impacts of such economic conditions on the Salem witch trials?

• The trials provided an opportunity to eliminate economic rivals

• 14 of the victims had large fortunes and vast stretches of land

• Most of the victims owned farms of at least 130 acres, i.e. Rebecca Nurse, John Proctor, and Sarah Osborne.

• After being accused, many of the victims had their property confiscated

  • E.g. Giles Corey refused to confess and died an illegal and horrific death to prevent his land being taken from his sons.

What were the religious conditions of New England at the time?

• Hunts occurred mainly in Puritan New England colonies

• Anglican colonies to the south only executed 1 woman for witchcraft

• Puritan colony in Salem strictly adhered to Calvinist ideologies, which emphasised the constant threat of the Devil.

What was the impact of religion on the Salem witch trials?

• The belief in witchcraft was embedded in their worldview

• Prominent religious figures, e.g. Samuel Parris, fueled witch hysteria with their sermons

• Trials could be seen as an effort by religious authorities to maintain social and religious conformity

  • Those who were accused often did not fit the Puritan mold of piety and conformity.

What were the social divisions within Salem town and village?

• Salem village had some 600 residents and was characterised by land disputes and a bitter feud between the 2 most prosperous families

• Somewhat significant wealth disparities between Salem town (wealthy merchants) and Salem village (poorer farmers)

• Putnams vs Porters

What was Putnam/Porter dispute?

• Putnams = family and supporters mostly involved in subsistence farming → resented growing influence of mercantile economy → wanted to sever ties with Salem town

• Porters = aligned with commercial interests of the town, supporters usually entrepreneurial → favoured close ties with the town.

What was the impact of such social divisions on the Salem witch trials?

• The witchtrials deepened the existing divisions and the polarisation between the 2 families was both a cause and consequence of the trial

• Many of the accusations came from the Putnams and their supports → Ann Putnam Jr was one of the most active accusers

• Individuals associated with the Porter faction were often targeted

Who was Samuel Parris?

• 1689 = Samuel Parris became the Church Minister

• A quarrelsome man and had the support of the Putnams

• Parris was a polarising figure in Salem → his harsh and demanding nature combined with disputes over salary exacerbated social divisions

• Anti-Parris faction retaliated October 1691 and a Porter-dominated group took over.

How did Samuel Parris contribute to the Salem witch trials?

• Fueled witch hysteria through his sermons which often focused on the dangers of witchcraft and the presence of evil among the congregation

• Intensified suspicions and exacerbated fears

• First accusations done so by his daughter

What happened during the Goodwin possessions/Boston witch trials in 1688?

• John Goodwin was an extremely devout Puritan and, in the summer of 1688, 4 of his children began acting strangely

• Cotton Mather examined them and deemed they had been bewitched

• Mary Glover was accused

  • She was an old, Catholic, washerwoman who barely spoke english and was fluent in Gaelic

• She was unable to recite the Lord’s prayer correctly and ultimately confessed

• Executed November 16th 1688

What was the influence of the Putnam family on the Salem witch trials?

• Provided an opportunity for the Putnams to reassert social dominance and undermine the social and economic standing of the Porters

• Ann Putnam Jr was one of the most active accusers

• Male members of the Putnam family pressured local JPs to act on accusations

• During investigations, the Putnam family sat behind the girls and threw their weight behind the prosecution

• Many of the accusers were connected to the Putnams

What was the situation in February 1692 with Abigail and Betty?

• February 1692 = Betty Parris (9) and her cousin Abigail Williams (11) began behaving weirdly

• Their behaviour was similar to that of the Goodwin children

• William Griggs, the local doctor, examined them and deemed they had been bewitched

Who were the other girls who became afflicted with the same symptoms?

• Ann Putnam Jr → daughter of the head of the Putnam family

• Mercy Lewis → servant in Thomas Putnam’s household

• Mary Walcott → a niece of the Putnams

• Elizabeth Hubbard → niece of William Griggs

What